[VEGAN NEWS = Reporter Park Minsu] A new painting by German artist Friedrich Kunas has drawn attention for its striking similarity to the work of Korean photographer Kyungho Lee. Kunas’s painting, We Can’t Afford To Stay The Same (2025), is being compared to Lee’s photograph Memories (2022), with critics pointing out that the two works share nearly identical composition, colors, and subject placement.

Lee stated, “Memories is an artwork I created by reinterpreting an original photograph I personally took in 2021 using Photoshop. Both the original file and the edited version belong to me, and I recently found evidence that Friedrich Kunas used it without permission for commercial purposes. I find it regrettable that my original work was used without the creator’s consent.”

Lee’s Memories was officially published in the 2022 issue of the art and culture magazine BE(ATTITUDE). The photograph captures a solitary figure gazing at the sea under a golden sunset. Lee, known for his visual storytelling, has worked extensively in Korea on photo shoots, music videos, and other commercial visual projects, bridging photography and videography.

The photographer said he completed Memories (2022) by enhancing the color and texture of the original 2021 photograph. The artwork retains the composition of the original image but emphasizes the golden tones of sunset and emotional depth through post-production.

Kunas is believed to have used Lee’s artwork as reference material in creating his painting We Can’t Afford To Stay The Same (2025). Observers have pointed out that the two works share near-identical details—such as the figure’s position, the structure of the waves, the lighting, and the color palette—raising concerns that the painting may constitute an unauthorized derivative work.

The controversy quickly spread on November 10 through the social media platform Threads. A user posted side-by-side images of the two works with the comment, “There’s controversy that Kunas, one of the world’s top three gallery artists, copied a Korean photographer’s photo. Artistic borrowing should be broad, but this seems like plagiarism.” The post rapidly gained thousands of views and hundreds of comments, sparking widespread discussion in and beyond the art community.

Lee, the original artist, replied directly in the comment section of the post: “Hello, I’m the original creator. I was truly shocked when I first found out. I believe this is an unethical act that deceives both the public and collectors. I hope such things never happen again. I may not be a great figure, but I will work to ensure that other artists no longer suffer this kind of harm.”

Other users also commented, saying, “Even the waves and figure position are identical,” “Supporting the original artist,” and “Pace Gallery needs to look into this.” Many agreed that “in an era where the boundary between artistic reference and plagiarism has become blurred, ethical standards must be reestablished.”

That same day, Lee wrote another post on Threads, saying, “This is exactly the same photo I took in 2021. Why did this artist exhibit it in New York without telling me?” He also tagged the official Pace Gallery account, asking the gallery to verify and respond to the matter.

An art copyright expert commented, “If the painting reproduces the creative expression of the photograph to a substantial extent, it could constitute an infringement of the photographer’s derivative work rights. Given that the original photograph was taken in 2021 and the painting was created in 2025, the sequence of expression will be a key factor in determining liability.”

The painting is reportedly listed in the exhibition catalog of the international art institution Pace Gallery. Vegan News contacted both Kunas and the Asia press team of Pace Gallery on November 9 to request official comment, and also reached out to the gallery’s Korea office. As of this report, neither Kunas nor the gallery has issued a response.

Members of the art community have stressed the importance of creative ethics, saying, “Even world-renowned artists must obtain clear consent and credit the original creator when using another person’s work for commercial purposes.” Experts further noted, “As AI and digital technology blur the boundaries of creation, awareness of artistic ethics and copyright protection must be strengthened.”